¹⁷ And say to Archippus, “See that you complete the task that you have received in the Lord.”^(A)

² to our^[a] sister Apphia, to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church in your^[b] house:^(A)

¹⁷ for he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.”^(A)

4 In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who is to judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I solemnly urge you:^{(A) 2} proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage with the utmost patience in teaching.^{(B) 3} For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound teaching, but, having their ears tickled, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires^{(C) 4} and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. ⁵ As for you, be sober in everything, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.^(D)

² and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.^(A)

²³ They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the common and show them how to distinguish between the unclean and the clean.^{(A) 24} In a dispute they shall act as judges, and they shall decide it according to my judgments. They shall keep my laws and my statutes regarding all my appointed festivals, and they shall keep my Sabbaths holy.^(B)

⁶ For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands,

Personal Instructions and Benediction

²⁰ Timothy, guard the deposit entrusted to you. Avoid the profane chatter and contradictions of what is falsely called knowledge;^(A)

The Good Fight of Faith

¹¹ But as for you, man of God, shun all this; pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance, gentleness. ¹² Fight the good fight of the faith; take hold of the eternal life to which you were called and for which you made^[a] the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.^{(A) 13} In the presence of God, who gives life to all things, and of Christ Jesus, who in his testimony before Pontius Pilate made the good confession, I charge you^{(B) 14} to keep the commandment without spot or blame until the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ,^(C)

¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; continue in these things, for in doing this you will save both yourself and your hearers.^(A)